When Belle and Sebastian were nominated for the best British newcomer award at the 1999 Brits, few expected them to beat the likes of Steps and 5ive to the prize. But then few realised the power a diehard fanbase could harness in the internet age – or even realised we were in the internet age. Some cried foul, Pete Waterman going so far as to demand an investigation into vote-rigging. Yet this was no mere quirk but rather a glimpse into the future – the era of bands being signed on the strength of their MySpace "friends" was just around the corner.